I didn't know they left either thought they just lost the fight song but I'll read the article. They are volunteers. A couple folks that are in the band were in the Marching Band with me at Bowie State and have asked me to join up but it's a hell of a commitment.

Actually, in Griffin's Gruden Camp video they show a trumpet player in the band who used to be one of the Assistant Band Directors at Bowie.

One thing I do admire is that I think I heard (I dunno if its true anymore) that these guys aren't paid. That they're out there voluntarily.

The band is back as in this way... LETTER TO THE EDITOR: The Redskins are back - Washington Times
Not that they ever left. The Band doesn't get much attention in our threads but they and the fight song are so much a part of the tradition of the Redskins so I thought it would be nice to include them in the Redskins re-emergence since they are now armed with the fight song as they were back in the day when they played every time the Redskins scored a touchdown which was quiet often as it is of late. It brings back great memories for me and Im sure many others here. HTTR!!!

I missed something... Why did the team not allow the band to play after touchdowns?

In the past, they used to play the short version of Hail to the Redskins for field goals and the long version for touchdowns. The Redskins Org. changed it to the short version for FGs and they play the CD track for Tds because they want the crowd to be more involved with singing. So the band was just sitting there while the CD was playing the fight song, crazy right?

Now the Band is back to the old school way, they play the long version live for TD's. once again. For the long time Skins fan, especially the fans at the game, it encompasses the entire Redskin feeling and tradition.

Isn't it absurd that they had the band stop in the first place? Glad to hear they will be playing again on Sunday.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DynamiteRave

I've never been to a game so I never knew the band left.

One thing I do admire is that I think I heard (I dunno if its true anymore) that these guys aren't paid. That they're out there voluntarily.

Baltimore is the only other franchise I know to have a band as well. They are both volunteer based. I'm not sure about the our band, but I have two students that play in the Ravens band and they have to meet the rest of the band on Kent Island near Annapolis and take a bus back to Bmore. Kent Island was deemed the middle point for all band members. For a 1:00 pm start the kids I teach don't get back home till around 9:00 pm. The devotion of these members as volunteers is amazing.

I know folks in The Ravens' band as well. A lot of folks that played in Morgan St's band are in The Ravens band. A few from Bowie St. as well. They ROCK ! I can hear it when they come back from commercial and stuff.

Why would playing the CD make it easier for fans to sing along? I've been to dozens of games and never noticed it was difficult to sing along with the band. That's idiotic. Sounds like some marketing official had a "bright" idea and like so many of their "bright" ideas they didn't actually consider any ramifications. I cannot conceive how playing a CD instead of having the real live band, a beloved decades old tradition, "improves" the fan experience. Fail.